Page 241

And Gu Xiaoxi clenched her fists and stood up from the ground, dusting off the dirt from her body, her dark eyes filled with rage.

The crowd gasped in awe as they witnessed her imposing manner!

666~

She actually punched the mighty and imposing Xiao Xiao, sending it flying with one blow. There was no questioning her strength, but her adversary wasn’t a person, it was a dog.

Everyone thought Xiao Xiao would go berserk.

Yet, to their surprise, the disheveled dog came running out of the bushes, whimpering loudly. It shook off the leaves from its black fur, walked elegantly to Gu Xiaoxi’s side, lowered its head, and rubbed against her leg, making a "woo woo woo" sound of grievance.

Gu Xiaoxi bent down, patted its head, and then nodded in satisfaction, "That’s a good boy!"

Don’t think that just because it can chase her, it could actually win against her.

Considering it was a dog, she had always just been playing with it, never really striking out in earnest.

This show of force was enough to highlight the divide between dogs and humans.

...

The series of interactions between Gu Xiaoxi and Xiao Xiao clearly demonstrated one thing.

Xiao Xiao had surrendered at Gu Xiaoxi’s feet...

The dog trainer who brought back Xiao Xiao watched this scenario with complex emotions, vaguely understanding why Xiao Xiao had been disobedient.

The trainer quietly left, feeling that he needed to report this incident to the commander...

In the courtyard of the Military Dog Base of the Sixth Unit, everyone was clapping and cheering.

The scene seemed quite shocking to all, and the applause was as much for praising Xiao Xiao’s transformation as it was for lauding Gu Xiaoxi’s ability to tame it.

Yun Xiao stood in a corner, secretly watching Gu Xiaoxi and Xiao Xiao, his eyes filled with envy.

Xiao Xiao was an exceptional dog that had not found a master to subdue it until now.

But now, though Gu Xiaoxi hadn’t done anything specific to tame Xiao Xiao, from their initial encounter, chase, and playful tussles, she had gradually won over its heart.

Any military dog with a spirit could sense the unique aura emanating from Gu Xiaoxi.

...

Under the bright and brilliant midday sun, in the shade of the trees at the dog kennels, several retired old military dogs lay lazily sleeping.

Gu Xiaoxi, Shao Changfeng, Zhao Zilong, and other members of the fifth squad were all using hoses, bathing the retired military dogs on the back garden lawn.

Here, many people had developed strong bonds with the military dogs after spending a lot of time together.

A white sheepdog tangled itself around Zhao Zilong.

It was a young retiree with a leg injury that made it limp but still loved exercise, running laps, and jumping.

Each time it was let out, it would dash across the plains and leap high, declaring to everyone that it was still in good form and ready for the battlefield.

Zhao Zilong also cherished this retired dog named Ah Fan, who had spent two years stationed in the navy, had been credited with multiple acts of valor, and had been wounded in war, which led to its retirement.

Shao Changfeng had the most fun playing with Xiao Huang, a retired military dog, now aged but still lively, with golden fur and eyes as sharp as ice. Like Ah Fan, it could run and jump, and relished challenges.

Xiao Xiao sat a short distance away, holding its head high, gazing up at Gu Xiaoxi like a faithful guardian deity.

After Shao Changfeng finished bathing Xiao Huang, he looked at Gu Xiaoxi with perplexity and said, "Do you think Xiao Xiao is a bit on the masochistic side?"

"Don’t speak ill of it; it can understand you!" Gu Xiaoxi said while brushing a dog’s fur, not even lifting her head.

"I refuse to believe that. Think about it, it could go anywhere on the Military Dog Base, yet it follows you around, settling for just a few bowls of dog food. It’s pretty pitiful," Shao Changfeng shook his head, puzzled.

However, before he could finish his last word, he felt something slam hard into his body and the next thing he knew, he was sprawling on the ground, caught completely off-guard.

In his panic, he saw Xiao Xiao charging at him, teeth bared, its big face mere centimeters away, which scared him so much he had goosebumps all over, "Gu Xiaoxi, save me..."

Xiao Xiao extended its tongue and gave Shao Changfeng’s face a thorough lick, covering him with saliva, satisfied only after wiping him with its thick, fat rump, and then went back to its spot to resume position as the guardian deity.

Shao Changfeng only felt as if his face was coated with paste, making it unbearably uncomfortable.

He quickly realized what had happened and wiped off the sticky liquid from his face, only to see that he had fallen into a mud pit with everyone around him staring in a way that was indescribably comical.

"What are you all looking at!" Shao Changfeng annoyed, climbed up from the ground, feeling embarrassed to have been sneak-attacked by Xiao Xiao.

Had he remained silent, it might have been fine, but as soon as he spoke up, the entire crowd burst into laughter.

Especially Zhao Zilong, who couldn’t hold back and crouched down on the ground, clutching his stomach and pointing at Shao Changfeng while laughing hysterically, "Hahaha... I think you should look in the mirror."

Shao Changfeng hurriedly turned and leaned over a basin to check his reflection, only to see his thick eyebrows in a ridiculous shape stuck above his eyelids, making his face look exceedingly strange.

"Hahahaha!" At that point, everyone laughed out loud.

Gu Xiaoxi watched, her mouth twitching slightly, and she had to admit that eyebrows were key to a person’s appearance.

At this moment, Shao Changfeng, feeling awkward from being laughed at, picked up a water hose and sprayed Zhao Zilong, then turned it on the people nearby.

Damn!

The others were not willing to be bullied like this and started to fight back.

Suddenly, the place designated for washing military dogs turned into a battleground for a water fight.

Seeing that the situation wasn’t good, Gu Xiaoxi had already run off early, standing under a safe corridor, watching the group "battling" it out in the back garden.

Her lips curved into a smile, not knowing how long such happy days would last, but for now, the sunshine seemed glorious and life beautiful.

Just then, Yun Xiao appeared before her with a white military dog.

Gu Xiaoxi took a closer look and saw Yun Xiao smile.

Although faint, it was like a sudden ray of sunlight piercing through a rainy day, looking both novel and refreshing.

"Something wrong?" Gu Xiaoxi patted off a few water droplets that had splashed onto her, asking with a smile.

Xiao Xiao, taking lively steps, followed Gu Xiaoxi, completely leaving behind the group that was miffed because of it.

"Mm! I haven’t yet thanked you for your help," Yun Xiao said with earnest, sparkling eyes, "I’ll treat you to a meal!"

"You’re treating me? Where are we going to eat?" Gu Xiaoxi genuinely puzzled, said, "Here at the Military Dog Base, there’s nowhere to eat but the canteen."

"Then the canteen it is," Yun Xiao said nonchalantly, pointing to the nearby military zone’s large canteen, adding, "I borrowed the kitchen to cook for you."

Gu Xiaoxi looked in the direction she was pointing; the words "Sixth Unit’s Large Canteen" stood out conspicuously. A very ordinary place that she glanced at in passing now, yet in the distant future, she would realize that their friendship had begun at this moment.

Two women in green military uniforms walked along the shaded path, with Yun Xiao still not fond of talking.

But, when Gu Xiaoxi asked her something, she would respond with a few words.

Gu Xiaoxi also learned that Yun Xiao’s loyal dog, named Xiao Xiao, couldn’t engage in strenuous exercise after its retirement.

Because Yun Xiao didn’t like communicating with people, she communicated with the military dogs instead, understanding their thoughts through their body language.

"So do you plan on staying with Sixth Unit permanently?" Gu Xiaoxi asked, walking slowly and looking back at Yun Xiao.

The woman beside her, her pretty face flushed a faint red, stood out particularly in the sunlight.

Yun Xiao shook her head, her voice tinged with resignation as she said, "I want to become a useful person, and I’ve been trying hard. But..."

At this point, her eyes filled with disappointment.

Effort did not always equate to fitting in with the group; she didn’t belong to this society to begin with and considered herself a person plagued by misfortune.

"But what?" Gu Xiaoxi, seeing her struggle to speak, sensed that she had something difficult to say.

Yun Xiao clenched her fists, her pale lips curling into a smile, and finally turned back to Gu Xiaoxi with a resolute tone, "I will change! Because I won’t give up, I’ll keep trying."

She would strive to become a person who was valuable to the country and to herself.

Gu Xiaoxi ran her fingers through her hair, turned her head away from Yun Xiao, and looked up at the sun hanging high in the sky, her forehead wrinkled as she said, "I believe in those who have confidence. Yun Xiao, if it’s communication problems that make you reclusive, then listen well.

From now on, you need to learn to speak up.

Don’t care about what others think, say what you want to say, do what you want to do; only then can you live your own life.

A person’s life is not to live for others but for oneself.

If you obsess over what others feel and dare not speak up, you’re making a mistake. Do you understand?"